I’m always on the hunt for fashionable crocheted tops and sweaters. I love how quickly they stitch up, and I get super excited when I find a design with an especially gorgeous stitch pattern. It’s even better when the pattern only uses a few skeins of yarn!

In our special Crochet More Issue of Love of Crochet, we feature 5 sweaters and tops that can be stitched up in no time. Most of the sizes use 3 skeins of yarn or less, so these projects are great for crafters on a budget (like me!).

The Tranquil Sea Top is crocheted in two rectangular pieces, making the shaping a breeze. The buttons can be worn in either the front or the back, so it’s easy to put your own spin on it. This piece would look amazing with a skirt, and it would be a great way to dress up a cami or tank.

You won’t believe how easy the stylish Mira Shell is to make, and our handy tutorial on the foundation single crochet makes it even simpler. The stretchy fabric is incredibly comfortable, and this tank can easily be dressed up or down. Wear it with slacks for a fashionable office look or pair it with jeans to complement your weekend wardrobe.

I am all about the long front ties on the Candy Apple Cardi. Tie them in the front for a playful look, or create a fitted style by tying them in the back. The best part is that this sweater is crocheted in one piece, so you won’t have to worry about setting in the sleeves! I always put off seaming and finishing work, so I love a project that makes it nice and easy.

For our guys out there, the Charred Wood Sweater is a rugged Tunisian crochet pullover that will look awesome with your favorite pair of jeans. The quarter-zip collar is stylish but casual at the same time, and you’ll love the classic ribbed texture.

If you’re searching for the perfect tank for summer, the Carolina Blue Tank is the pattern for you! Thanks to the easy stitches and quick-to-make motifs at the bottom, you’ll be able to crochet this beautiful top before the weather starts to cool off. I love how simple it is to customize the length of this project by adding extra squares along the bottom for a longer tank.

These crocheted garments will work up in a flash, and you won’t have to break the bank purchasing your yarn. If you’ve never crocheted a sweater or top, these designs are all perfect ways to get started! Which one of these garments are you going to make first?

I think I have finally reached a point in my Olive Twist shawlette that I feel is a good size. I’ve been showing the gals here at work how it fits, and we’ve all agreed that it’s probably a good time to stop. If I go any further, I risk having a triangular blanket instead of a shawl.

I’ve definitely made a few mistakes along the way, but managed to find them when I wasn’t too far into the next row. It still wasn’t fun to rip out the row, but if I didn’t, I knew it would end very, very badly. Since I’ve been working the same pattern, I am able to quickly find the mistake and start again.

The shawl at this point is really beautiful—lacy, open, and very drape-y. I’m already imagining how it will look with my travel outfit, and if I’m imagining it right, then I will be the envy of everyone at the airport and they will all race over to me to find out where I bought it. Only then will I turn to them with my proud smile and say, “I made it.” I can already picture me flinging it over my shoulder as I walk along the Champs-Élysées. The shawl will just match the scenery of Paris so well, I’m pretty sure everyone will just assume I’m Parisian. Well, except for my really bad French accent…

How is your Olive Twist shawlette coming along? Or, have you finished yours already? We always love seeing what our readers make, so please feel free to share with us! If you didn’t get a chance to follow the Crochet Along and still want to make an Olive Twist shawlette, the kits are still available online. Make sure to download the Technique Tutorial as well to help you out!

If you’re in the Northern hemisphere like the Love of Knitting and Love of Crochet office, you are probably experiencing sweltering temperatures in your neck of the woods. However, our friends in the Southern hemisphere are in the middle of winter at the moment, and we would like to introduce you to a wonderful charity that provides donations to South African children in need.

Knit-A-Square accepts 8″ x 8″ knitted or crocheted squares that are pieced together and donated to vulnerable or orphaned children in South Africa. While winter days there are relatively mild, dry air causes nighttime temperatures to drop quickly and plummet to near freezing. Many of these children have been diagnosed with HIV or AIDS, and keeping warm at night is vital to their health.

Donating is easy because the squares work up in no time, but you can donate hats, sweaters, socks, or toys as well. Stitch up a square that will become a toasty blanket, then knit or crochet another thoughtful item to warm a child’s heart.

The school supplies are popping up in our local stores, and all of us here at the Love of Knitting and Love of Crochet office have taken that as a cue to put our brains into learning mode! We’ve mentioned the various skills all of us will be learning, and we’ve spent the past couple weeks perusing our recently published patterns to decide which ones will help us learn our new skills. It was tough to choose from so many inspiring projects, but each of us finally saw a design we simply had to try. We invite you to follow along with us on our stitching journeys as we See it. Try it. and (hopefully) Love it!

Jen is excited to try Tunisian entrelac. Our Fall 2014 Issue of Love of Crochet, on sale August 25th, features a super helpful Beginner’s Guide explaining the steps. Jen fell in love with the impressive Autumn Entrelac Shawl in the same issue, and she hopes to make this gorgeous accessory after practicing her Tunisian entrelac skills.

Kathy is the team member who came up with the idea for See it. Try it. Love it! because she has been eager to give knitting a shot. For her first knit project, she chose the fantastic Palisades Scarf from the Fall 2014 Issue of Love of Knitting. The stitch pattern is worked in chunky yarn with simple knit and purl stitches, so it’s a perfect beginner pattern.

Danielle knows the basics of crocheting, but she has never tackled a complete pattern. She has chosen the Charcoal Neckwarmer from our special Crochet More Issue because the small size will make it a quick and easy way to practice. The leaning shell stitches look more difficult than they actually are, giving you a lot of bang for your buck as you learn.

I’ve been fascinated by Tunisian crochet lately and, like Jen, I’m eager to expand my skills. I made a wonky swatch several years ago, but now I’m ready to give it another try and actually complete a project. To ease into Tunisian crochet, I’ve chosen the Ocean Breeze Placemats and Coasters from the Summer 2014 Issue of Love of Crochet. I’m a little nervous about the color changes, but this same issue has an awesome Beginner’s Guide to show me the way!

We hope our adventures in crafting inspire you to find a cool new skill, stitch, or technique and See it. Try it. Love it! along with us! Now that we have chosen our patterns, it’s time for us to gather our materials. We’ll update you on our progress on August 1st, but until then, visit us on Facebook or Twitter and tell us about your own learning experiences!

The kits for our next crochet along, the One Hour Cowl from our special Crochet More Issue, are now available from our Crochet and Knit Shop. You NEED to feel the heavenly softness of this cowl, worked with 2 skeins of Chunky by Misti Alpaca! This fabulous accessory was designed by our very own Kathy Woods-Locke, and I cannot stop touching the sample she made. The baby alpaca yarn is simply divine, and I can’t wait to make a One Hour Cowl of my own.

To get the same luxurious finish, grab your kit today so you’ll be ready to crochet along with me as I make this fast and fun project. With six great color options to choose from, including neutrals and bright colors for a bit of pop, there is a kit for every crafter. The best part is that the kits are only $32.99! This is a true bargain because they include the pattern and all the yarn you’ll need to make this luscious accessory. You’d have a tough time trying to find the yarn alone for that price, so what are you waiting for? Get your kit and join me in making the gorgeous One Hour Cowl!

When I first tried to create an adjustable ring (AKA magic loop) at the beginning of a project, I ended up feeling pretty confused and frustrated. The strands of yarn in my hands looked strange and awkward, and I wasn’t even sure if I was on the right track. If this sounds like something you’ve experienced recently, we have you covered!

We have added 3 new picture tutorials to our website to help you avoid any “creation frustration.” Now, you can learn to create an adjustable ring at the beginning of your project to minimize the hole at the top of hats and amigurumi designs or in the center of some motifs. Once you master this technique, make the beautifully cabled Bubble Gum Twist Hat as a quick and easy accessory.

You can also eliminate your starting chain by working a row or round of foundation single crochet. The Mira Shell is a gorgeous example of a project using this technique, and the result is a polished bottom edge that stretches with the garment.

We invite you to expand your crochet skills and use our handy tutorials to try these techniques. Once you see our step-by-step photos and instructions, you’ll find that these techniques are much simpler than you could have imagine. Are there any other stitches or techniques you’d like to see broken down into a tutorial? Leave a comment here or visit us on Facebook to let us know!

Lately, we here at the Love of Knitting and Love of Crochet office have been talking a lot about learning new skills. As a crochet enthusiast, I feel like I’m long overdue for learning Tunisian crochet. I tried it once a while back, but I kept gaining or losing stitches on my hook and ended up with a wonky semi-square.

As I’ve been searching for my first real Tunisian crochet project, I’ve come across some true gems of information on this fascinating technique. After seeing all of these great patterns and resources, I am fairly confident that Tunisian crochet will become my new obsession for a bit. If you’re looking for some info to fuel your passion for Tunisian crochet, check out these inspiring books, articles, and patterns.

If you are a Tunisian newbie like I am, our Fall 2013 Issue of Love of Crochet has an incredibly helpful Beginner’s Guide just for you. This is basically Tunisian crochet 101, and I am currently devouring this fascinating article to gather a bit of knowledge before I begin.

After I get comfortable with the Tunisian simple stitch, I’m excited to try a few different stitches and incorporate them into my crafting. The Beginner’s Guide in our Winter 2013 Issue of Love of Crochet is an informative how-to featuring twisted stitches, extended stitches, and Tunisian knit and purl stitches. This same issue features the gorgeous English Wool Cardigan, worked in bulky yarn for a Tunisian crochet project you can finish in a flash.

If you want to add some color to your Tunisian crochet projects, grab our Summer 2014 Issue and check out the Beginner’s Guide to Tunisian Crochet Color Changes. This awesome article explains 4 different ways to change colors using this technique, and the effects created by these color changes are simply beautiful! After reading the article, check out the Ocean Breeze Placemats and Coasters for a perfect practice project.

Tunisian crochet is also called the afghan stitch, and this technique is a fun way to make – you guessed it – afghans! Get your copy of Tunisian Crochet Baby Blankets, a fabulous book that will keep your hook happily busy for a long time, and make stunning gifts for the kids (and adults) in your family.

With so many wonderful choices, I certainly have my work cut out for me as I pick my first Tunisian crochet project. However, perusing all of these fabulous resources has truly inspired me and given me the confidence I need to learn this beautiful technique. Have you tried Tunisian crochet? Which Tunisian patterns or skills are you eager to try?